By Dr. John Slippy

“Tis the season” is a phrase that reminds us all of the Christmas holiday season. To the health care professional, however, this means it’s that time of year when we see more cold and flu symptoms in our patients.

Sufficient sleep, a healthy diet, and routine exercise are all a must throughout the year. However, during this particular time of year,

it’s a good idea to give your immune system a boost in order to give it every fighting chance of beating those winter bugs. A great way to do that is by increasing your intake of antioxidants.

Most of us have heard of a fruit or vegetable that is “high in antioxidants” or even some very expensive fruit drinks that are loaded with antioxidants. So what’s all the hype about? What are antioxidants and how do they help to fight colds, flu and disease?

The hype is all about free radicals. Free radicals are not a remnant of the hippie movement, but rather a very real and scientific term for an unstable charged molecule. Our bodies are fearfully and wonderfully made by a loving Creator who, in His wisdom, created checks and balances, even in the billions of chemical reactions that take place within our bodies every day. Without going into great details of chemistry, a brief explanation of this amazing phenomenon within our bodies can not only provide us with great insight into sickness prevention, but it can also compel us to worship our Creator as we see just a glimpse of the engineering marvel that is our human body.

If you recall some of the basics from general chemistry class, you might remember that chemical reactions are always in search of stability. If all the factors are present for a more stable situation, then chemicals will react, following natural laws, in order to achieve a more stable formation. As chemical bonds are broken and formed to release energy for use in the body and to create molecules for use in our cells, some common by-products of these reactions are highly unstable molecules that disrupt the stability of other molecules (via the process known as oxidation) and ultimately result in damage to cells. These unstable molecules are free radicals. Our bodies can put some of these free radicals to good use in particular immune functions, but, for the most part, must act to neutralize these free radicals and the damage that they cause to the cells of our body.

Free radical damage is the primary culprit in aging and improper cell breakdown, ultimately leading to diseases including cancer, according to the national cancer institute. Sounds pretty grim, doesn’t it? It would be if it weren’t for antioxidants! By consuming foods and vitamins rich in antioxidants, we can neutralize free radicals and reduce their damage to the cells of our bodies. This also frees up our immune system to work on other invaders of the body such as viral and bacterial infections.

Some great sources of antioxidants are: raw fruits and vegetables with vibrant orange or green colors (carrots, sweet potatoes, squash, apricots, pumpkin, mangos, spinach and kale), tomatoes, guava, papaya, pink grapefruit, blood oranges, watermelon, Vitamins A, C, and E, pomegranates, blueberries, pine bark, green tea, selenium, and many others. While uncooked fruits and vegetables are the best source of antioxidants (high temperatures destroy antioxidants), whole food nutritional supplements are another great way to boost your intake of antioxidants. Be sure to consult with your local wellness practitioner for further information regarding both routine and seasonal wellness strategies that utilize antioxidants.

Dr. John Slippy is a board certified Doctor of Chiropractic. He is a family wellness practitioner and owner of Living Well Chiropractic Center in Exton, PA. After completing his undergraduate studies at Philadelphia Biblical University, he went on to receive his Doctor of Chiropractic degree from Palmer College of Chiropractic.